james_bibow1

Holga in broad daylight

HOLGA rules that I learned to ensure you get get those GREAT pics.

1- Take out the insert

2- Tape over the 2 notches left by the insert.

3-shoot 400 speed film

5 Last and most important to me, forget the normal rules... SHOOT INTO THE LIGHT...REALLY>.. makes a huge differnce...Im not sure why!

Sometimes this is the price you pay for using a gem like this TLR... what I do, is the same as the poster above... bring the arrow to the center of the take up spool, and than close the door and wind until it stops... when Im shooting 6x6 120 I normally expect to only have 10 useable frames... losing the first and the last. Often Ill take a fun y /silly shot as the first and last just so I know im IN the roll at that time.

I bought my 2nd C330 from Ebay last year, and Ive never really got a roll all the way through it :( It keeps sticking mid roll..Ive had it repaired, but the tech said theres nothing that can be done with it now.

http://www.photo.net/photo/1314931&size=lg for some reason it didnt post

well, I did what most of u said ... took out the insert, and taped over the holes... and it made a huge difference in the end.. not all were wonderfull, but I did learn that shooting into the sun at mid day can make for intersting almost sunset like photos. Enlcosed is a example. Thanks for all your help!!!

Well, to further my post, my images had zero vigeting, which was the main thing I was looking for. All were exposed fairly well, within stop of each other, but I would say that it was nearly too sharp. Now, of course Im not talking tack sharp like a true optic, but somewhere between... I understand compleatly that u get what you paid for, and Im not complaining.

I'll first take the insert out, and maybe smooth out the edges around the center to prevent the scratches as advised. Now, Ive been using soft foam inserts under the rolls to cause them to have more tension, if I remove those will that cause the film to vigent more? Is there a healthy middle?

After much research across the web, and finding I liked alot of the

results of shots taken with a HOLGA, I bought one. Excitingly, I

exposed my first roll (HP5) and was looking forward to the results.

What I got wasnt anywhere what I expected. Now I uderstand that you

get what u get with these plastic toys, but I expected vigeting at

least.. not a single shot was like that. All had that cheap disosable

camera look, but nothing else inherit to the Holga. Is there any way

I can help this "look" along? One thing I DID do was I remvoved the

645 insert, and cut it to make it fit as a 6x6. Any help would Be

greatly appreciated!!

Doesnt seem that anyone wants to answer this ..so i'll give it a go...

Im doing something simliar right now... nd from what Ive seen is direct lighting, harsh even will produce alot of detail... as will using a quality macro lens... a super sharp lens will have it so u can see each seperate eye lash.

Hope this helps some

I JUST ran into this problem last night... I loaded my first roll into my new ETRS and Im not sure if I loaded it right.... but I couldnt figure out how else it goes in really.. I inserted the new roll into the top spool... un wound the paper over the pressure plate, adn around to the take up spool... and than hand wound the wheel until the START HERE arrow was thereadn than closed the back and put in on the camera. Everything from that point seemed to work ok, adn I exposed the whole roll. It did seem odd to me, with the paper over the pressure plate, but I couldnt figure out another way to do it?

Thanks everyone for youre thoughts so far. Heres what Ive done so far. Ive agreed to re shoot her on the following conditions, she:

1- Has to show 3 friend of hers the pics, and listen to thier opinions.

2- Email me or show me specfic examples of what she wants.

 

Im also going to shoot this with poloroids first, so she can see the results, so I wont waste one single shot on her.. From what I can tell my compostion was dead on, just not her self esteem. It does feel awkward though Ill admit. Im not used to not having creative freedom. Even on the small amount of agency work ive done, the guidlines werent that strict.

To answer the questions from above, the package that I sold to her was for $220 which gave her the choice of 25 proofs...and she could purchase additional prints. Im not sure if its worth it, but I do agree that my reputation is what Imworking for... and Ive learned alot already...thanks so much for youre inputs everyone!

Let me give you guys the back ground on this. :(

 

Shot a VERY attractive woman a few days ago. She explained to me

ahead of time that she didnt photograph well, so I took it into

account and shot extra film.. shot well exposed and arty- just my

style. I emailed her the best 10 of the shoot, expecting her to be

amazed, as were the few people that ive shown (photographers them

selves) but one by one she hated each. Never for any flaw in the

photograph, she just hated the way she looks THAT much... there was

always something wrong with the way she looked..or what she was

wearing ( she of course selected the clothes) I was rather shocked

and out back by it- I of coruse offered her a full refund of the $80

she paid me as a downpayment- but she isists that I keep it, and

asked for me to a reshoot...becasuse she now "knows " what she wants

and doesnt want... I couldnt help but be offended...so what do I do

folks? Do i cut my losses and move on? Or do i truck along and try to

make her happy?

Hi all, I recently purchased a Bronica ETRS setup with all the

fixings with a Schneider-kreuznach Bronica 125mm- 250mm zoom lens, at

what I think is a good deal ( $950 for the body, prism, 120 and 35mm

back and a power grip/winder and the lens). My question is, aren

there any of you out there own a zoom in this range, what are your

thoughts of it? Sharpness? Im hoping it will serve as a decent

portrait lens,.. (I bought a 75mm on the side to add to it) Anyt

thoughts would be WONDERFULL!

I know theres alot of threads about which lens is the better for

this or the = to, etc.. but my question is a little different. In

35mm , I use a 105 2.8 macro, for portraits and just about anything

with a face, and its perfect for me- Im going to be buyign a Bronica

Etrsi stsyem soon , and Im looking at either a 150 or a 200mm lens,

but Im not sure at what to look for in the Apeture range... 2,8 is

the magic # for 35 mm, whats a good one for MF if i want to achieve

shallow DOF?

I agree with the posts above- I shot a wedding a few weeks back and used a variety of B and W films... including XP2 and Portra... and of the 5 films I chose, I like both of those 2... I shoot mostly xp2 now becasue Im partial to the contrast and the lattitude, and becasue I can find it more often in my area.. both are fine...

Ive never really had any problems witb getting my models to relax in front of the lens, even the ones that have never posed before. Here are some ideas I use that might help you.:)

1- If theyre not a model, than dont "pose" them... see, that makes them CONSTANTLY awar of thier surroundings... and anyone would tense up.

2- If the shot is out doors, use an area that has a large attractive backdrop..so no matter what direction you shoot its going to be ok. If in doors.. use a LARGE backdrop as well... if its seamless paper, use the widest that u can afford... again for the same reason...

3- Be excited about your work! When Im shooting someone, and i KNOW i got a keeper, I have this rush of excitement that shoots through me, and it carries over on to my subject. They just want to look good, and if youre excited about it, than it helps put them at ease.

4- Back to the posing point. The only direction I give my subject's is to try to look into the lens as much as possible, than you just shoot candids... but they turn into portrraits becasue theyre lookinginto the lens.... that really works for me.

5- If youre going for specfic expressions...like sad or pensive... what I like to do is have them close thier eyes for a few seconds and than relax.... I have them think about a subject that's sad or happy or whatever...and than have them open thier eyes and look into the lens... you only have a fraction of a moment before they realize that thier still getting photographed... and all you need is 1/250

6-Explain to them what your doing... what looking your going for.

7- and the general rules I follow: Use good film, and good lens and best of all IF ITS NOT GOOD ENOUGH< YOURE NOT CLOSE ENOUGH!!

Thats my 2 cents anyways....

Hello all! I have a technique question... Im shooting a wedding

next week and Im looking to get a simliar tone in my back and whites

as Eolo does in this photo:

 

http://www.photo.net/photo/792660

I use the same rig as he does, and I like to use xp2 400 as well. I

noted that he rates his at 200 ...anyone have any luck with that? Do

u process it normally or pull it? Also, can anyone tell me by the

photo, how I can acheive that tone?

thanks much for any advice!!

Though you already have your answer...I live near you, and was having the same problem...I ended up going through B and H for Portra and the likes, but now that you mentioned the place in Bham..I'll have to give them a call.... thanks:)